by Guest Sat Sep 10 2011, 00:01
Wolverhampton v Tottenham
By Steve Bower
BBC Match of the Day commentator
TEAM NEWSWolves manager Mick McCarthy is likely to name an unchanged team for the fourth league match in succession if Matt Jarvis is passed fit.
Midfielder Adlene Guedioura is available for selection after recovering from an ankle injury.
Tottenham's new signings Emmanuel Adebayor and Scott Parker are expected to go straight into the team.
William Gallas, Steven Pienaar, Sandro and Rafael van der Vaart all miss out, but Ledley King could play.
MATCH PREVIEWAfter being convincingly beaten by both clubs from Manchester in their two opening two league games so far, suddenly a trip to Molineux looks a little trickier for Tottenham than it did before a ball was kicked in early August.
A return of seven points from the first nine has been a tremendous lift to Wolves and has immediately given them a platform from which to build on.
Just to put things into perspective, it was 30 October last season before Mick McCarthy's team passed the seven-point mark, taking them 10 games to do it. They were playing catch up from an early stage and went on to concede 66 goals.
But the signing of Roger Johnson in the summer looks to be a masterstroke and clean sheets in each of the last two games is far more encouraging.
This will be the first time Spurs have taken to the field since the closure of the transfer window and Harry Redknapp has admitted the Luka Modric situation has taken its toll on the team. Spurs need Modric back in last season's sparkling form quickly, and if that happens alongside new signing Scott Parker, there will be a whole new look to their midfield.
Whilse there was frustration at not adding a new face in defence, where Gary Cahill would have been a welcome addition, the introduction of Emmanuel Adebayor should help them convert more chances. What price a debut goal from the former Arsenal striker to make sure everyone is focusing around on the pitch events again?
MATCH FACTSHead-to-head
This is the 92nd meeting between the sides. Tottenham have won 45 times, Wolves 27 and there have been 19 draws.
Spurs have only lost one of their last five league games at Wolves.
Tottenham won 3-1 when they clashed at White Hart Lane last year and the match at Molineux was a thrilling 3-3 draw.
Wolves' Steven Fletcher and Tottenham's Roman Pavlyuchenko scored in both those matches. Fletcher hаѕ scored six goals in hіѕ last nine Premier League games in total.
Wolves
Wolves have only lost one of their last seven league matches.
They briefly topped the table for the second time this season after their 0-0 draw with Aston Villa. The last time before this season that they lead the top flight was 29th September 1962.
Opta stats have recorded that Wolves have averaged 52.2% possession in league matches this season, a higher figure than Arsenal's 51.5%.
Jamie O'Hara's eight shots off target this season is more than any other top-flight player has had.
Tottenham
Spurs won just three of their final 12 league games last season and have lost their first two matches this season. This is their worst run since November 2008.
They have kept just one clean sheet in their last 10 top-flight matches.
Brad Friedel is set to make his 269th consecutive Premier League appearance. He last missed a game in May 2004.
Tottenham have conceded three goals in their first two matches of a Premier League season just once before, in 1998/1999. They lost 3-1 away at Wimbledon and 3-0 at home against Sheffield Wednesday. The last time they conceded three goals in their first three league games of a season was in the 1979-80 season (Middlesbrough 1-3 h, Norwich 0-4 a, Stoke 1-3 a).
In a 20-team league season, no side has ever gone on to finish in the top four after gaining a point or less from their opening three matches.
Tottenham have won only one of their last 24 Premier League away games in the month of September and none of the last 15 since beating Sunderland in 2001.
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